Following failed negotiations between Teck Coal and the United Steelworkers Local 9346 Union on February 17th, employees at Teck’s Elkview mine have now been on strike for over a month.
The strike began on January 30th, after failed negotiations between the company and the union regarding employee benefits and concerns, issues which have been ongoing since September, as the employees’ contract expired on October 31st.
At the discussions on February 17th, the union offered a counter-proposal to the company’s original offer, which included the withdrawal of several proposals and amendments to others.
These changes included the withdrawal of proposals for an increase in special vacation and Dobie dues, in exchange for Christmas Shutdown language, ability to bank stat holiday time, and another floater day per year, as well as the withdrawal of a request for a tool allowance increase, having New Year’s Day off, improvements to bereavement leave, and double time pay for stat holidays.
The proposal also included changes to overtime pay, days in lieu, life insurance and dental plan improvements, reimbursement for chiropractic and physiotherapy services, increased pay rates for employees who train other employees, that members on long term disability who are terminated receive extended health benefits, a wage increase of 4.5 per cent after the first year, 4.5 per cent increase in the second year, and four per cent every year after, a four year contract term, and that wage increases be retroactive to November 1, 2010.